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String Flow Viola by Ben Osterhouse Kontakt viola instrument interface
Ben Osterhouse·Kontakt Instruments

String Flow Viola: Chordal Viola Instrument for Kontakt

String Flow Viola is a Kontakt instrument by Ben Osterhouse that samples a rolled-bow viola technique to create energetic, chordal textures. It requires the full version of Kontakt 5.8.1 or later.

REQUIRESKontaktHost player sold separately
Kontakt
AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique
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01Overview

String Flow Viola is a viola instrument developer Ben Osterhouse built for Kontakt. It samples a string technique in which the player quickly rolls the bow across several strings, producing a bright, chordal texture rather than a single sustained line. The instrument offers two ways to play it: a simple harmony mode for quick chord writing, and a more flexible mode for players who want to trigger specific recorded chords directly.

Best for

  • Chordal viola textures
  • Fast chord sketching
  • Cinematic string harmonies
  • Kontakt viola sessions
  • Harmony writing in keys
Requires
Kontakt
Store
Plugin Boutique
02Key features

What you get

  • Samples a rolled-bow viola technique for chordal textures
  • Harmony mode: choose chord type and key, then play white keys
  • Harmonies manually recorded rather than pitch-shifted
  • Direct mode plays recorded chords on the viola
  • Included MIDI clips demonstrate working chords
  • Requires full Kontakt 5.8.1 or later
  • About 680 MB of disk space needed
03In depth

Two Ways to Play the Chordal Viola

The first method is designed for fast results. You choose a chord type and a key, then play on the white keys. Each note you play picks a harmony that fits the selected key. Ben Osterhouse notes that the harmonies were recorded manually, rather than generated by pitch-shifting, which is a different approach from the Harmonize scripts included with Kontakt.

The second method asks more of the player. When you play a chord that has been recorded, the instrument plays that chord on the viola. The MIDI clips included with the instrument show which chords work, so they serve as a practical starting point for exploring the voicings.

Who It Suits and What You Need to Run It

String Flow Viola suits producers who want viola chord textures in a sample-based setup, particularly those already working in Kontakt. Because the harmony mode is keyed to a chosen scale, it can help with fast chord-based sketching, while the direct chord mode gives more control for players who know the instrument.

The instrument requires the full version of Kontakt 5.8.1 or later. It will not run in demo mode within the free Kontakt Player, which is a common point of confusion. The download also needs about 680 MB of free disk space.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

DeveloperBen Osterhouse
TypePlugin
CategoryKontakt Instrument
RequiresKontakt
FormatsKontakt
05FAQ

Questions, answered

What do I need to use String Flow Viola?

You need the full version of Kontakt 5.8.1 or later. The instrument will not work in demo mode in the free Kontakt Player. It also needs about 680 MB of available disk space.

What format is String Flow Viola available in?

String Flow Viola is available as a Kontakt instrument.

How do I play the harmony mode?

Choose a chord type and a key, then play on the white keys. Each note you play selects a harmony that fits the chosen key.

Are the harmonies generated automatically?

No. Ben Osterhouse says all of the harmonies were recorded manually, not created with the Harmonize scripts found in Kontakt.

07Developer

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